Tertullus (lawyer)

The Jews' spokesman against Paul

The early church1st century AD

Tertullus was a professional Roman lawyer (orator) hired by the high priest Ananias and the Jewish elders to present charges against the apostle Paul before the Roman governor Felix in Caesarea. He was known for his rhetorical style and flattery, but his accusations against Paul were not proven.

Key events

The charges against Paul

Tertullus presented the charges against Paul to Governor Felix, accusing him of being a plague, an agitator among the Jews, and a leader of the Nazarene sect.

Acts 24:1 Show in context →

1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they laid their case against Paul before the governor.

Μετὰ δὲ πέντε ἡμέρας κατέβη ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς Ἁνανίας μετὰ ⸂πρεσβυτέρων τινῶν⸃ καὶ ῥήτορος Τερτύλλου τινός, οἵτινες ἐνεφάνισαν τῷ ἡγεμόνι κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου.

Acts 24:2 Show in context →

2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus began his accusation: "Most excellent Felix, through you we enjoy great peace, and by your foresight reforms have been brought about for this nation.

κληθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἤρξατο κατηγορεῖν ὁ Τέρτυλλος λέγων· Πολλῆς εἰρήνης τυγχάνοντες διὰ σοῦ καὶ ⸀διορθωμάτων γινομένων τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ διὰ τῆς σῆς προνοίας

Acts 24:3 Show in context →

3In every way and everywhere we acknowledge this with all gratitude.

πάντῃ τε καὶ πανταχοῦ ἀποδεχόμεθα, κράτιστε Φῆλιξ, μετὰ πάσης εὐχαριστίας.

Acts 24:4 Show in context →

4But so as not to detain you any longer, I beg you to give us a brief hearing in your kindness.

ἵνα δὲ μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖόν σε ἐγκόπτω, παρακαλῶ ἀκοῦσαί σε ἡμῶν συντόμως τῇ σῇ ἐπιεικείᾳ.

Acts 24:5 Show in context →

5We have found this man to be a plague, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

εὑρόντες γὰρ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον λοιμὸν καὶ κινοῦντα ⸀στάσεις πᾶσι τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τοῖς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην πρωτοστάτην τε τῆς τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως,

Acts 24:6 Show in context →

6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him.

ὃς καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἐπείρασεν βεβηλῶσαι, ὃν καὶ ⸀ἐκρατήσαμεν,

Flattery of Felix

Tertullus began his speech with excessive flattery toward Felix, praising him for the peace and reforms he had supposedly brought to the nation.

Acts 24:2 Show in context →

2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus began his accusation: "Most excellent Felix, through you we enjoy great peace, and by your foresight reforms have been brought about for this nation.

Acts 24:3 Show in context →

3In every way and everywhere we acknowledge this with all gratitude.

πάντῃ τε καὶ πανταχοῦ ἀποδεχόμεθα, κράτιστε Φῆλιξ, μετὰ πάσης εὐχαριστίας.

Accusation of temple desecration

Tertullus claimed that Paul had attempted to desecrate the temple, which was a serious charge that could carry the death penalty.

Acts 24:6 Show in context →

6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him.

ὃς καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἐπείρασεν βεβηλῶσαι, ὃν καὶ ⸀ἐκρατήσαμεν,

Paul's defense

After Tertullus' speech, Paul was given the opportunity to defend himself and refuted all the charges point by point.

Acts 24:10 Show in context →

10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "Knowing that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I make my defense cheerfully.

Ἀπεκρίθη ⸀τε ὁ Παῦλος νεύσαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος λέγειν· Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ὄντα σε κριτὴν τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ ἐπιστάμενος ⸀εὐθύμως τὰ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι,

Acts 24:11 Show in context →

11You can verify that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

δυναμένου σου ⸀ἐπιγνῶναι, ὅτι οὐ πλείους εἰσίν μοι ἡμέραι ⸀δώδεκα ἀφʼ ἧς ἀνέβην προσκυνήσων ⸀εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ,

Acts 24:12 Show in context →

12They did not find me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd—not in the synagogues, not anywhere in the city.

καὶ οὔτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ εὗρόν με πρός τινα διαλεγόμενον ἢ ⸀ἐπίστασιν ποιοῦντα ὄχλου οὔτε ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς οὔτε κατὰ τὴν πόλιν,

Acts 24:13 Show in context →

13Nor can they prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me.

⸀οὐδὲ ⸀παραστῆσαι δύνανταί ⸀σοι περὶ ὧν ⸀νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου.

Mentioned in the Bible (2)

Acts 24:1 Acts 24:2